Genesis 19:15-22
[15] And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
[16] And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
[17] And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
[18] And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
[19] Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
[20] Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
[21] And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.
[22] Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
[23] The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
Judgement is centered on Sodom and Gomorrah, but mercy provides a way of escape for Lot. The Bible says that the angel of the Lord hastened Lot to get out of the city let he and his family be consumed in the iniquity of the city, but Lot lingered.
The Bible goes on to say that God put him outside of the city and told him to “escape for they life, don’t look back, don’t stay in the plain – go to the mountain – let thou be consumed”.
Grace and mercy reaches after him and pulls him and his family out of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Notice this…..the mercy of God can pull you out of destruction, but will always give you instruction. We must heed God’s instruction.
The mercy of God will always be accompanied with instruction. Think about the woman caught in the act of adultery. Mercy steps on the scene and saves her from destruction, but Jesus gives her some instructions.
Mercy meets a man possessed with demons, heals him, and puts him in his right mind. The mercy of God reaches out to Him, then Jesus gives him instruction (Mark 5:19).
If the mercy of God has pulled you out of destruction – be careful to follow the instruction of the Lord! Follow the instruction of the Lord.
God told Lot to go to the mountain (another level), but Lot compromised and wanted to stay in the same proximity – the familiar. Lot said “Oh, not so, my Lord” (Genesis 19:18), how about I go to this small place nearby (Genesis 19:20). Lot thought he had a better idea!
I’ve been in the church long enough to know the some people want to be delivered, but they aren’t ready to change their lifestyle. They prefer, like Lot, to go to a small place that is nearby. They prefer the same old same old. Lot comprises going to another level to go to this little place.
[20] Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
If the mercy of God has touched your life, make sure you follow His instructions because He will take you to another level.
That’s my five minutes!
